Stemmed and stemless drinking vessel

ABSTRACT

A drinking vessel is provided with a cup and a cap that can be on top of the cup to form a stemless assembly and beneath the cup to form a stemmed assembly. The cap has a stem that extends upwardly in the first assembly and downwardly in the second assembly. The stem includes a footprint with a sufficient diameter to support the second assembly in an upright position. A straw hole receives a straw in the first assembly of the drinking vessel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Drinking vessels are well-known in many various sizes, shapes, and constructions. Also, some drinking vessels are designed for specific beverages, particularly alcoholic drinks, such as wine glasses, cocktail glasses, beer glasses, and the like. Some vessels include stems to support the body or cup above a table, bar or other horizontal support service. Other vessels are stemless, such that the body or cup sits directly on the table, bar or support surface.

Specialty glasses and cups are often used at parties and other events to provide a unique theme or atmosphere for the occasion. Such specialty vessels can add fun and excitement to the event, and memories for those who attend. In these instances, the specialty drink vessels can enhance the reputation of the host or party planner, as well as the caterer or others who contribute to the success of the event.

Therefore, a primary objective of the present invention is the provision of a unique drinking vessel which can be converted between stemmed and stemless.

Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a drinking vessel having a removable cap which can be inverted and used as a stem for the cup or body of the vessel.

A further objective of the present invention is the provision of an ornamental drinking vessel which can be used with or without a stem.

Still another objective of the present invention is a provision of a drinking vessel which can be assembled in multiple configurations.

Yet another objective of the present invention is a provision of a method of converting a drinking vessel between stemless to stemmed.

A further objective of the present invention is a provision of a drinking vessel which is visually distinctive, yet easy to fill and clean.

These and other objectives will become apparent from the following description of the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The drinking vessel of the present invention includes a body or cup having a base and an open upper end. A separate cap has one end with a complementary size and shape to fit on the open upper end of the cup and a stem extending in the opposite direction. The cap can be positioned on top of the cup, such that the drinking vessel is stemless, or beneath the cup, such that the drinking vessel is stemmed The cap may include a straw hole to receive a straw when the cap is on top of the cup. The cap allows the vessel to be configured as a stemless assembly or a stemmed assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-7 show the drinking vessel of the present invention assembled in a stemless configuration.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the stemless configuration of the drinking vessel.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the stemless configuration.

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation view of the stemless configuration.

FIG. 4 is a left elevation view of the stemless configuration.

FIG. 5 is a right elevation view of the stemless configuration.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the stemless configuration.

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the stemless configuration.

FIGS. 8-14 show the drinking vessel assembled in a stemmed configuration.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the stemmed configuration of the drinking vessel.

FIG. 9 is a front elevation view of the stemmed configuration.

FIG. 10 is a rear elevation view of the stemmed configuration.

FIG. 11 is a left elevation view of the stemmed configuration.

FIG. 12 is a right elevation view of the stemmed configuration.

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the stemmed configuration.

FIG. 14 is a bottom plan view of the stemmed configuration.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the stemmed configuration with the cup tilted to an off-center or non-vertical orientation.

FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of the drinking vessel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1-15 show the drinking vessel of the present invention in the ornamental design of a pineapple. It is understood that the design may take other ornamental forms while maintaining the convertible functionality between a stemless and stemmed drinking vessel, as shown in the drawings.

The drinking vessel is generally designated in the drawings by the reference numeral 10. The vessel 10 includes a body or cup 12 and a cap or conversion piece 14. The cap 12 includes a stem 16. As seen in FIG. 15, the stem 16 may include multiple stem pieces 18A, 18B and 18C. Alternatively, the stem may be formed as a unitary piece. The stem 16 is adapted to be mounted to a top post or peg 20 on the cap 14 using a washer 22 and screw 24. Alternatively, the cap 14 and stem 16 can be formed as a single piece with a unitary or integral construction.

The cup 12 and cap 14 can be configured in a first assembly 26, as shown in FIGS. 1-7, or a second assembly 28, as shown in FIGS. 8-14. More particularly, the body or cup 12 includes a flat bottom 30 so that the cup 12 can sit on a table, bar, or other horizontal support surface. The body or cup 12 has an open upper end 32, so that the cup 12 can be filled with any beverage of choice. The cap 14 includes an end 34 sized and shaped complementary to the upper end 32 of the cup 12. The end preferably has a flange slightly smaller in outside diameter than the inside diameter of the upper end 32 of the cup 12, so that the cap flanges nests in the cup. The flange may be continuous for 360 degrees or discontinuous. Thus, in the first assembly 26, the cap 14 fits on top of the cup 12, so that the first assembly is stemless. A straw hole or notch 36 may be provided in the cap 14, preferably adjacent the end 34, such that a straw can be inserted into the cup 12 without removing the cap 14.

In the alternative second assembly 28, the cap 14 is inverted to receive a lower portion of the cup 12 into the open end 34 of the cap 14, as shown in FIGS. 8-14. The stem 16 terminates in a footprint or diameter sufficient large so as to support the cap 14 and cup 12 in an upright orientation as a stemmed drinking vessel. In the second assembly, the cap and stem is vertically oriented, and the cup can be vertically disposed in the cap or tilted off-center, as seen in FIG. 15.

In the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, the drinking vessel 10 has the ornamental design of a pineapple, with cross hatching 38 on the cup 12 and on the cap 14, with the stem 16 formed as leaves. It is understood that the drinking vessel 10 can take other ornamental designs without departing from the scope of the present invention.

In use, the drinking vessel 10 can be used with the cap 14 on the cup 12, and a straw inserted through the straw hole 36. Alternatively, the cap 14 can be removed from the cup 12, so that a user can drink from the cup 12. When the cap 14 is inverted and the cup 12 received in the cap 14 to form the stemmed second assembly 28, a user can pick up the assembly 28 to drink from the cup 12, or can leave the inverted cap 14 on the table and pick up the cup 12 alone for drinking.

The invention has been shown and described above with the preferred embodiments, and it is understood that many modifications, substitutions, and additions may be made which are within the intended spirit and scope of the invention. From the foregoing, it can be seen that the present invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives. 

1. A method of converting a drinking vessel from stemless to stemmed, comprising: placing a cap on top of a cup so as to cover an open upper end of the cup and form a first assembly from which a person can drink; the first assembly being adapted to sit on a horizontal support surface such that the first assembly is stemless; removing the cap from the top of the cup; inverting the cap; setting the cup on the cap to form a second assembly from which a person can drink; and the second assembly being adapted to sit on the horizontal support surface such that the cap forms a stem on the second assembly.
 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising inserting a straw through a hole in the first assembly.
 3. The method of claim 1 further comprising inserting a straw through a slot in the cap of the first assembly.
 4. The method of claim 1 further comprising tilting the cup in the cap of the second assembly to a non-vertical orientation.
 5. The method of claim 1 further comprising tilting the cup in the cap of the second assembly to an off-center position.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second assemblies are formed after the cup is filled with a beverage.
 7. A method of serving a drink comprising: filling a cup with a beverage; then assembling the cup with an inventible member to form a first stemless drinking vessel, wherein the invertible member is on top of the cup and alternatively a second stemmed drinking vessel wherein the invertible member is beneath the cup.
 8. The method of claim 7 wherein the invertible member is inverted for the first and second drinking vessels.
 9. The method of claim 7 further comprising inserting a straw through an opening in the first stemless drinking vessel.
 10. The method of claim 7 further comprising tilting the cup in the invertible member of the second stemmed drinking vessel to a non-vertical orientation.
 11. A drink vessel, comprising: a cup having a base and an open upper end; an inversion piece with one end having a size and Shape complementary to the upper end of the cup and with a stem extending from the one end; the inversion piece being movable from a first position on top of the cup with the stem extending upwardly and a second position beneath the cup with the stem extending downwardly.
 12. The drink vessel of claim 11 further comprising a straw opening in the inversion piece.
 13. The drink vessel of claim 11 wherein the stem terminates in footprint sufficient large to stand the inversion piece upright on a horizontal surface when the conversion piece is in the second position.
 14. The drink vessel of claim 11 wherein the cup and inversion piece are in the form of a pineapple when the inversion piece is in the first position.
 15. A drinking vessel, comprising: a cup having a top and a bottom; and a removable and invertible stem for the cup; the stem being mountable on the top of the cup so as to extend upwardly and alternatively mountable on the bottom of the cup so as to extending downwardly.
 16. The drinking vessel of claim 15 wherein the stem has a terminal end with a diameter to support the cup on a horizontal surface when the stem is on the bottom of the cup.
 17. The drinking vessel of claim 15 further comprising a straw hole in the stem.
 18. The drink vessel of claim 17 wherein the straw hole is adjacent a perimeter edge of the stem.
 19. The drinking vessel of claim 15 wherein the cup and stem are in the form of a pineapple when the stem is on the top of the cup.
 20. The drinking vessel of claim 15 further comprising a straw hole in one of the cup and the stem. 